1The Hebrew is, They were elder for days; they were not only old men for days, but elder for days then he; The word, strictly taken, imports a man more then old, even one that is worn with age. Further, it denotes a two-fold eldership; First, an eldership in time, days or years. Secondly, an eldership in wisdom, and understanding. They are our elders indeed, who are wiser then we; eldership in time deserves respect, but eldership in wisdom commands it. And as such are expressed by this word in the Hebrew, so both the Grecians and Romans express their wise men by ⟨p. 37⟩a word of the same force; Senators were elders, not always in time (there was no Law much less necessity that every Senator should be an old man) but in understanding: every Senator ought to be a wise man, though not an old man. They who are to govern others wisely, had need be furnished with wisdom themselves. Grey hairs alone cannot make a good Magistrate. We read the word applied both to Church-Elders called (Isa. 37.2.) The Elders of the Priests, and to State-Elders, called Elders of the people (Exod. 17.5.) or of the Land (Gen. 50.7.) The Elders of the Land of Egypt went with them. 'Tis said (Psal. 105.21, 22.) Pharaoh made Joseph Lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance, to bind his Princes at his pleasure, & teach his Senators wisdom. Young Joseph made Pharaohs wise men wiser, and gave counsel to his counsellors. Here Elihu calls Jobs friends Elders, and we may take him either speaking strictly, that they were his Elders in time, or speaking modestly, that they were his Elders in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, and therefore he was not hasty to speak, but gave them their scope, waiting till Job had spoken, Because they were elder then he.
1The Hebrew is, They were elder for dayes; they were not only old men for dayes, but elder for dayes then he; The word, strictly taken, imports a man more then old, even one that is worne with age. Further, it denotes a two-fold eldership; First, an eldership in time, dayes or yeares. Secondly, an eldership in wisdome, and understanding. They are our elders indeed, who are wiser then we; eldership in time deserves respect, but eldership in wisdome commands it. And as such are exprest by this word in the Hebrew, so both the Grecians and Romans expresse their wise men by ⟨p. 37⟩a word of the same force; Senators were elders, not alwayes in time (there was no Law much lesse necessity that every Senator should be an old man) but in understanding: every Senator ought to be a wise man, though not an old man. They who are to governe others wisely, had need be furnished with wisdome themselves. Gray haires alone cannot make a good Magistrate. We read the word applyed both to Church-Elders called (Isa. 37.2.) The Elders of the Priests, and to State-Elders, called Elders of the people (Exod. 17.5.) or of the Land (Gen. 50.7.) The Elders of the Land of Egypt went with them. 'Tis said (Psal. 105.21, 22.) Pharoah made Joseph Lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance, to binde his Princes at his pleasure, & teach his Senators wisdome. Young Joseph made Pharaohs wise men wiser, and gave counsel to his counsellers. Here Elihu calls Jobs friends Elders, and we may take him either speaking strictly, that they were his Elders in time, or speaking modestly, that they were his Elders in wisdome, knowledge, and understanding, and therefore he was not hasty to speake, but gave them their scope, waiting till Job had spoken, Because they were elder then he.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] significat non tantum fenem sed senia confectum, & non tantum senem aetate sed sapientia.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 significat non tantum fenem sed senia confectum, & non tantum senem aetate sed sapientia.
